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Orting to consider HB 2015 measures: 0.1% criminal‑justice sales tax and a police recruitment grant
Summary
Finance staff and the police chief presented related HB 2015 items — an ordinance to impose a 0.1% criminal‑justice sales tax and a CJTC grant request to fund two officers and related costs; both items were set as standalone agenda items for April 8 after council discussion about reporting and longer‑term budget impacts.
Orting City Council members heard two related items tied to House Bill 20‑15: an ordinance to impose a 0.1% sales-and-use tax dedicated to criminal‑justice services, and a Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) grant application to recruit and retain officers and support emergency‑management functions.
"This is for a one‑tenth of one percent increase in our sales tax, specifically related to House Bill 2015, which was amending RCW 82.14.0345," said Tammy Mortar, the city’s finance director, describing that the tax can be imposed through June 30, 2028, and that the city budgeted the revenue in its 2026 budget. Mortar said eligible uses include domestic‑violence services, public defenders, diversion programs, homelessness reduction and behavioral‑health outreach, and that the city can track revenues in a separate fund for reporting.
Separately, the police chief described the CJTC grant component of HB 2015, saying the statewide program offers competitive funds and that the city requested the maximum to fund two police‑officer positions plus overtime and emergency‑management support. "Request for the maximum amount of funds allowable under the grant to fund 2 police officer positions was requested, which is a total of 250,000," the chief said, adding that the overall grant request including overtime and emergency‑management costs totaled roughly $420,000 and would require about $104,000 in city match.
Several council members supported advancing both items but pressed for clarity on reporting and long‑term costs once grant funds expire. Council member Tracy called the law‑enforcement grant "a scary one," saying the city needs to plan for the possibility of covering officer salaries after the grant ends. Staff said some match obligations could be covered by existing budgeted positions (for example the emergency‑management coordinator) and by other available revenue streams; Mortar and the chief committed to providing budget scenarios.
Both the sales‑tax ordinance and the CJTC grant request were scheduled as standalone items for the April 8 meeting so the council can review detailed ordinance language, reporting mechanisms, and worst‑case budget projections before any vote.
